Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Florence Smith is losing the battle
with H. R. Crawford. Her Section 8 was revoked in January, and she lost a court case and
owes Crawford $850 in back rent, for the apartment at 3700 9 St. SE.

The judge deducted $40 a month from the total, because she proved the
apartment was infested with rodents.

The resident manager, Gregg Yeldell, appeared in court and lied about
how clean and problem free the entire building was.

Smith had filed a complaint with the Housing Authority, on Yeldell,
stating he lived with his uncle, Robert Yeldell, but was not legally on his lease.

Still owing Crawford $850, Smith moved on April 11, but not before filing for an appeal
and a motion for a stay until the appeal date.

Smith said there was no way she was going to be evicted, after all, she
was the one who stopped her constituents from being evicted.

She said Crawford is not going to get a dime from her for the rent of
that rat infested apartment.

At her motion hearing the judge said since Smith had moved she did not
need the stay, in which he was going to grant.

She refused to turn the door keys over to Crawford.

Smith told the judge she would not turn them over until someone
reimbursed her for having to change the locks, to stop someone from stealing from her
apartment.

Nichols said no violations were committed, and instructed DOES to
report interest earned income in the appropriate Financial Management System account, and
develop a spending plan for the $1,321,670, that must be approved through the proper
procedure, and monitored, to be sure it is spent legally.

Not only does the DC Public School have bad food, students with low
grades, and crime on a daily basis, they have a program and development officer, Jon
Peterson, who just awarded a contract to Ward 8's shifty Phinis Jones.

Now the question is, who is Jones in with at DC Public Schools? He
kisses up to whomever is in a position to help him, i.e., Mayor Marion Barry, former
Councilmember Eydie Whittington and Wilhemina Rolark, and former director of DOES, Alexis
Roberson.

Jones has made millions from city contracts. One of his businesses,
Congress Heights Training Center, was under investigation by DC Office of Inspector
General (IG) for fraud, and breach of contract, among other infractions.

The investigation started after one of his students and an instructor
contacted Seegars for help. After a brief investigation, she contacted the IG to report
that Jones and Roberson had conspired together.

Jones had bragged to Seegars how people had tried to get him before,
but no one could touch him.

During the investigation Jones withdrew two contracts and forfeited the
money due him.

Roberson left DOES, even though a $18,000 a year raise was in place for
her.

Jones had worked on Roberson's failed campaign in Ward 4, in 1994. Once
she lost he hired her at his training center as a consultant.

The recently awarded contract is for $38,471, to provide employment and
literacy training to 30 parolees.

Peterson claimed Jones won the contract fairly, but he would take
another look at it if any, and only if, serious legal trouble arises for Jones or his
center, such as a conviction.

Reactions like Peterson's, who should be investigated, is one reason
the city is in such bad budgetary condition.

Another question is, why is Jones still the chairman of the board at
East of the River Community Development Corporation?

After one year and 2 months Ward 8 Councilmember Sandy Allen had her
first town meeting. She had said, at the beginning of her term, that she did not want to
have a meeting just to be meeting. She wanted the meeting to be productive.

March 19 marked that event. All of her invited guests attended.

Camille Barnett, Chief Financial Manager, Donald Edwards, DC Fire
Chief, and General Julius Becton, appointed Superintendent of DC Public Schools, attended
the meeting at Turner Elementary School. Acting Chief Sonya Proctor, was late because she
was being interviewed that day.

To save time Allen collected questions on preprinted forms, and dealt
the questions to the appropriate agencies.

About 125 community members attended, and about 75 DC government
employees.

Near the end of the meeting a few of the Ward 8 community members
gathered in the lobby and got loud because they felt their questions were not going to be
answered, even though the meeting was not over.

The main problems and concerns of the community were as usual, public
safety, public works and public schools.

Allen asked the loquacious Edwards to discuss the recent outbreak of
fires between Shannon Pl. and Portland St. He said they were arson, and so far none had
been solved.

Barnett, self-proclaimed dragon lady, said she had heard the residents
loud and clear about the lack of services.

She said three of her main goals to improve are customer services,
accountability to the people, with management reform, and budget target investments.

The first question she answered was about fixing Congress. She said she
had to meditate on that one. However, she will be working towards getting DC autonomy.

Winston Robinson, Commander of 7D said crime in 7D has decreased 29%,
with 50% decrease in homicide. He said the targeted areas with multiple crimes are getting
special attention. They are Forester St., Melon St., Barry Farms, and Woodland Terrace.

The 7D area is averaging 10 crimes a day, whereas, last year it was 30
per day.

Becton was proud to announce that 90% of the school system employees
are in the schools, not downtown.

Allen, chairperson of the Dept. of Human Services, has been working
diligently on a health plan for the poor and elderly.

One of the holdups was a contract dispute with seven companies
competing for the same contract.

The question was whether the poor and elderly could continue to use
their regular physicians, or be transferred into a less costly health maintenance
organization (HMO). The switch would save the tax payers $12 million a year. With the HMO
there may be a drop in the quality of care, especially mental health and substance abuse
treatment.

At one point Allen had considered having the contract investigated by
US Atty. Wilma Lewis. Congress also questioned the Medicaid contracts.

Four of the seven HMO's were refused by the Council, but voted on by
Congress.

The three losing companies filed complaints with the DC Contract
Appeals Board.

In April the DC Supreme Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the three
excluded companies, now, they too will provide health care services.

April 6, Medicaid recipients will choose HMO's.

Allen periodically holds forums on health care. One in Feb. was on
children health insurance programs. In April there was one held at Hadley Hospital.

The majority of the departments that have been transferred out of the
direct control of Barry were chaired by the councilmembers who have been there the
longest, and have not done a good job monitoring the performance of the agencies.

Some of those departments are Public Works, chaired by Harry Thomas;
Corrections and Metropolitan Police Department, that's under Judiciary, chaired by Jack
Evans; Housing and Community Development, that's under Economic Development, chaired by
Charlene Drew Jarvis; DC School System chaired by Hilda Mason, until recently. It has been
taken over by Kevin Chavous; and the worst one, Housing, chaired by Frank Smith.

Housing was in such bad shape that it was put under a court appointed
receiver, before the federal takeover.

Thomas (5), Mason (at-large) and Smith (1) are running again for their
seats, and Evans is running for mayor.

The voters complain about the councilmembers, and say they are unable
to successfully chair their committees, but they keep voting them back in office.

Katie Shephard has the James Brown syndrome, she is the hardest working
lady in Ward 8. In 1992 Shephard campaigned with, then councilmember candidate, Marion
Barry. Many times her model-like daughter, Kyata Darden, would assist her.

Shephard was hired as Barry's Ward 8 coordinator, on loan from DHS, after he fired his
brother-in-law, Walter Masters, because the Washington Times Newspaper printed an article
written by Seegars, accusing Barry of nepotism.

As the coordinator, Shephard was able to solve problems for many of
Ward 8 residents.

Shephard sponsored several luncheons to honor Barry, and the seniors,
to show how they were appreciated and not forgotten. Being a great cook, she would prepare
many of the dishes herself.

She also campaigned for former Ward 8 councilmember Eydie Whittington,
twice. One victory and one failure.

After all the food stamp redemption centers were closed in Ward 8, Shephard fought hard
and was able to get DHS to redeem food stamp coupons at the Valley Ave. location.

Councilmember Kathy Patterson, chairperson of government operations,
stopped Barry from borrowing personnel from various agencies, at which time Shephard was
sent to the agency where her salary was coming from, DHS, as assistant correspondent.

When she returned to DHS she continued to serve the community. She
passes out food and clothing year round, turkeys at Thanksgiving and Christmas, and toys
at Christmas.

Not only does Shephard serve the community, she also serves as a
songstress to crowds up and down the east coast.

He said Barry and one of the top runners, Richard Pennington, were too
close, and he should not be selected. When Pennington was here, Barry did not make him
chief, instead he chose Larry Soulsby.

Pennington went to New Orleans, where they say he has cleaned up a lot
of the crime.

When Pennington lived here there was a competition going on between him
and Barry, they chased some of the same women.

Faircloth told the Control Board (CB) that he believed because of Barry
some of the better applicants for police chief did not participate.

He believes in order to get well qualified candidates the city should
have a professional, reform-minded management.

Some DC officials objected to Faircloth and said he was meddling and
should stop, and leave it to local elected leaders to run the city.

Most citizens have felt the crunch of the elected leaders running the
city, into the ground.

Faircloth concern came after government agencies had been removed from
Barry's authority. However, Barry had been complaining for years that the mayor had too
much to do, and some of the functions were those of a state and should be removed.

Barry said he helped to write the Home Rule Act, therefore he had to
know if some of the functions of the government were removed from the elected officials
the District could not become a state.

Since the summer of 1997, when Congress took the mayor's duties, in the
midst of a recall effort, some of his top staffers have resigned.

The District officials are trying to make handicapped motorist suffer
because of their inability to perform their job. Instead of proposing legislation to stop
handicapped parking abuse, being lazy, they are going to take the easy way out and stop
all free handicapped parking.

A pictured ID on the placard to identify the actual handicapped
individual was suggested, and the ticket writer could ask the person for proof.

If the city was run properly by the elected officials and the
government agencies, there would not be a dire need for parking revenue to maintain the
city.

Gwendolyn Mitchell, head of Traffic Adjudication, Parking Enforcement,
has an inept agency. Every other year or so there's a scandal at that agency, either,
employees are accepting bribes, stealing money, selling inspection stickers, or they are
legally robbing motorists of millions of dollars.

The most recent is $17.8 million in tickets over paid and not refunded
to motorist because there is no system set up to give refunds.

The $17.8 million refund is a much more serious problem thanattacking
defenseless handicapped motorists.

Long time Ward 8 resident, Don Matthews, is making arrangements to
leave Ward 8, to go to Ward 6. He has grown tired of the politics in Ward 8.

Matthews said, "People in Ward 8 are out of control and need their
own control board.

"The councilmember is sitting on her rusty dusty getting a larger
welfare check."

He said, "Community workers don't understand what a civic duty is
because they look for tangible rewards or a position in return.

"They need to take a class in civics.

"When a wanna be leader takes on a project they don't involve the
average citizen, for selfish reasons they involve people who can do something for them,
such as supporting them when they run for office."

He even had a message for the few Jack Evans supporters in Ward 8.

He said, "The people who are on the devil's payroll are crazy if
they think we are going for the shit they are trying to sell us on Jack Evans.

"He came through the back door and bought off some of the
residents. They got their heads so far up their asses they need a glass stomach to
see."

Suspicious and worried residents in Stanton Dwelling and Frederick
Douglass Public Housing are not at ease yet. They don't know if their homes are going to
be demolished and replaced with market rate homes, or if they are going to be moved out so
their homes can be renovated and they move back in.

In 1995 the word on the street was that Stanton Dwelling was sold. No
one could confirm it. Three years later it's closer to being true than false.

At a meeting at Turner Elementary School in Feb., the court appointed
receiver, David Gilmore, tried to set the residents at ease, but he mainly made them more
suspicious.

A not very tall Gilmore may be suffering from a Napoleonic complex,
i.e., because of his shortness, he has to prove himself in an overly exaggerated manner to
make up for his height, so he flaunts his authority.

He said the residents will be relocated; it had already started at
Frederick Douglass and will not start at Stanton for at least 6 months. He said vouchers
will be given for relocation.

He said the new residents will be from very low to moderate income.

A letter to a resident at Frederick Douglass from Lee Palman, Director
of Office of Public Housing, stated "that at this time there is no firm plan to
demolish this development."

The letter was not dated, but it was in response to a letter he
received, dated Feb. 10, 1998.

The letter also stated that as Court appointed receiver, Gilmore has the responsibility
to act as its board.

After an inspection at Frederick Douglass, Bernie Tretault, Gilmore's
staffer, believes it ill-advised to repair units that were poorly designed and poorly
maintained.

Thus far, no request for demolition had been received by HUD and no
demolition can take place until that approval is given.

Public hearings and community meetings are necessary before the
demolition can take place.

Any questions of concern from residents from either complex can call
Mary Dunn, Public Housing Revitalization Specialist 202-275- 7965.

Green Party member, Karen Szulgit, found it necessary to campaign for a
seat to represent Ward 9. Maryland, especially Prince George County (PG) is considered
Ward 9 because many District residents move to PG; some do not change their voter
registration and continue to vote in the District, or vote in both places.

The mock campaign started in 1997, after Szulgit gathered signatures
for the recall of Barry, and for Initiative 57, Medical Marijuana.

Both campaigns fell short of the required signatures needed. Szulgit
and other circulators believed that because of the registration fraud and the lack of
maintaining the voter roll, it was impossible to get the proper amount of signatures
because they were not available.

After her campaign started, the Board of Election and Ethics discovered
almost 4,000 voters who were registered in both Ward 9 and the District. They have not
cross referred with the voter rolls in other jurisdictions yet.

The voter roll of approximately 350,000 voters is not accurate. The
rolls are not purged on a regular basis due to budgetary cuts.

The District head count is about 500,000, the voter roll is about
350,000, which means approximately 70% of the residents are registered. This is
unrealistic.

To take into consideration the residents under voting age, legal and
illegal aliens, seniors who don't vote, many apathetic public housing residents, ex-
offenders who don't know they can register, people who maintain their registration in
their home states, the dead, and people who just aren't registered, there's no way the
voter roll can be that high.

The initiator of Initiative 57, Steve Michael, represented by American
Civil Liberties Union, filed a suit in court to challenge names on the voter roll.

Szulgit found dead people still on the roll, Janet Keenan, Calvin
Rolark, and Stephen Sellows. She also found Packie Marie Lamont, a dog; Rev. Jesse
Jackson, who has moved and registered in Illinois; and Huge E. Rection, who's address is
that of a fire station.

Seegars turned in 1,000 names of people in Ward 8 who were listed at
boarded up houses, had moved, and of her deceased neighbors, who were still on the roll.

There are groups, such as League of Women Voters, who do vigorous voter
registration drives, adding names to the roll, but never maintaining the rolls by getting
unqualified names off.

Eugene Dewitt Kinlow chaired a community meeting attended by about 70
persons, to hear suggestions as to what should be done with unoccupied land west of South
Capital St., near Southern Ave. (behind Nationsbank).

On a boat ride, Norton had mentioned that affordable homes would be
built there. This plan was unbeknownst to Ward 8 Councilmember Sandy Allen, and the Ward 8
movers and shakers.

This meeting was for the community to voice their opinion as to what is
needed in their ward.

Little do they know, the Mayor's Office of Planning is who decides what
goes where. John Moore, from Office of Planning, has already decided what the land is to
be used for, and he says houses are needed through out the ward.

All the movers and shakers who think otherwise should contact Moore's
office to see who told him houses are needed in Ward 8.

The majority of the persons who attended the meeting believes some of
the unoccupied land should be used for commercial purposes because too many people, with
not enough to do, will increase the problems that are going on now.

Moore can be reached on 727-6492.

The Washington Interfaith Network (WIN), run by a group of ministers,
proposed a plan for 250 to 350 single-familytownhomes, for working families
earning from $20,000 to $45,000 annually.

WIN had performed this plan in Baltimore, successfully.

William Lockridge, community activist, former ANC member, mentor to
many school age youths, and former candidate for Ward 8 City Council, strongly objected to
the way WIN was trying to force there decision on the community. Lockridge said the area
was not zoned for commercial development, but should be.

O.V. Johnson, chairman for ANC8D, said the location is in his single
member district, and he did not appreciate how he had been bypassed in the decision making
process.

James Bunn, Ward 8 business man, was adamant when he said if any money
came to that community it had better not go through the East of the River Community
Development Corporation, and if it did they will hear from him, to see that it is
withdrawn.

Allen said WIN came directly to her first, but she told them to take it
to the community, for them to decide.

Another corrupt, mismanaged District agency, the Water and Sewer
Authority (WASA), was separated from the Dept. of Public Works by the mayor.

They have not improved its services, yet they want to add an additional
charge for late payments. They have a back log of customer refunds, issues improper bills,
employees perform work on the side while they are on the clock and using government
equipment, and the water still stinks and taste bad. This is going on after a 42% rate
increase, and a hint of an additional 5% rate increases in 1998.

The 800 water hot line number has been disconnected because,
supposedly, there is no longer a danger in drinking the water.

For late payments a 10% late fee is charged. An additional 1% late fee
will be charged for each month the bill is late. The water is usually disconnected for non
payment long before 60 days. A reconnection fee is $19.

Even if the water is cut off and reconnected in another person's name,
at the same address, the late fees must be paid.

Winifred Freeman, former Ward 8 City Council candidate, with an
impeccable resume, has started her own business, WOF Enterprise.

WOF is an architectural, drafting, cost estimating, site inspecting,
building permit processing firm.

She has set her sights on the site at South Capital and First Streets,
SW. She is proposing a shopping strip, to include a sit down restaurant, a 50 child day
care center, a police sub-station, incubator spaces for new businesses with centralized
support services, and retail company (Caldor, Target, Walmart, etc.).

She submitted her proposal to ERCDC and Anacostia Economic Development Corporation in
January, at $18 to $25 million total financing and $3 to $4 million pre-development
funding.

In a 4 block radius, in Ward 8, there are 9 churches, 3 next door to
each in the 3100 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., 2 next door to each other in the
3200 block of Esther Pl., 2 next door to each other in the 400 block of Alabama Ave., and
2 across the street from each other in the 600 block of Alabama Ave.

Two FBI agents, two staff members from CFO Anthony Williams' office, a
North West Current reporter, and two activists and creators of WWW.DCWATCH.COM,joined
Seegars at Players Lounge for lunch, in Ward 8.

The small business located on MLK, Jr. Ave. is the meeting place for
many of the congregators in the ward.

Players Lounge proprietors, Steve and Georgene Thompson have been
preparing some of the best soul food in the metropolitan area for years.

Sometimes a person's name determineshow a person turns out in
life. Take "Rhozier" for a man, he would definitely feel he would have to prove
his manhood. How about "Roach7" Whether it's a fish, a cockroach or a marijuana
butt, neither are impressive.

Suppose you are stuck with both of these names like Rhozier
"Roach" Brown.

He has been on the law breaking circuit all of his life.

He got a break when he was released from prison by a pardon from
President Gerald Ford, in the mid 80's.

He was imprisoned again in 1987 and released in 1993. He campaigned for
Barry in 1994, and was hired by him in 1995, as liaison to the ex-offenders and prison.

In 1993 Brown had agreed to repay $45,000 he had stolen from an
orphanage (the reason he was jailed in 1987). Barry had a fundraiser to assist Brown in
repaying the money, the money did not go to the orphanage.

Brown was laid off of his $32,000 a year job when Barry had to stop
detailing employees from other city agencies, to work on his staff.

Brown used his job with the mayor to run a con on unsuspecting
prisoners. He promised them an early release, for a fee.

After he was caught in1996 he agreed to become an informant for
the FBI.

Brown had approximately22 years remaining on his probation for
a murder and theft conviction in 1965.

He was arrested in January 1998 for failing to repay the $45,000 to the
orphanage.

The DC Professional Taxi Cab Drivers Association, Inc. (DCPTCD) and the
cab drivers are still fighting the injustice they have been confronted with since the
70's.

Louis Richardson, vice-president, sent two memos to the citizens, to
tell them of the further abuse of power, and neglected oversight by the DC Taxicab
Commission (DCTC). oversight committee.

He criticized the elected officials who turn a deaf ear to criminal
activities and expect to be re-elected. He said the time has passed for them to be
stopped.

He is claiming that the City Council is at fault, along with the mayor,
for not properly regulating the functions, or a better word, dysfunctions, that has
created a financial problem, and an illegal situation at the DCTC.

The DCPTCD worked with Attorney General Janet Reno, FBI, US Attorney
Office and Metropolitan Police Internal Affairs, and got a conviction on former chief of
the DCTC, Ronald Stokes.

They are asking for answers from councilmembers Jack Evans and Kevin
Chavous, who are on the DPW Committee, chaired by Councilmember Harry Thomas, that
oversees DCTC.

DCPTCD is accusing Evans, chairperson of the Judiciary Committee, for
the police department pay cut; and Chavous, chairperson of Education, Libraries and
Recreation, for the bad condition the schools are in.

Usually interim or acting personnel does not get the position they are
acting in. It held true for Interim Police Chief Sonya Proctor.

She was in the top three for the position of police chief, along with Richard
Pennington, former assistant chief who moved to New Orleans to head their police
department, and Charles Ramsey, deputy superintendent in Chicago.

Sen. Lauch Faircloth put a boomerang in the hiring of Pennington. He
said Pennington was too close to Barry, thereby he could not do an adequate job of
cleaning up the force. Pennington went back to New Orleans.

Barry had the opportunity to hire Pennington before he went to New
Orleans, instead he hired whimpy Larry Soulsby.

Pennington and Barry had something in common, they used to go after
some of the same women.

Many rumors surfaced on Proctor, one being she does not like dark skinned black people,
because she is a Proctor.

It's known that Proctors practice inbreeding, to keep the family color
light, bright, damned near white. She is married to a white man, but did not take on his
last name.

She got rid of three police inspectors, from 3D, 5D and 6D. They were
all dark skinned. They were replaced with one white, one light and one medium brown
skinned persons.

Proctor has not revealed why she asked the threesome to resign, nor
have the threesome. They did not put up a fight when asked to resign.

A sentencing commission was set up by the revitalization bill, signed
by President Clinton last summer, includes at-large councilmembers Harold Brazil and Hilda
Mason, and ward councilmembers Kevin Chavous (7), Harry Thomas (5), and Jack Evans (2).

They voted 3 to 1 to reject the proposed new sentencing guidelines.
Thomas did not vote.

The guidelines are similar to the federal statues, it would eliminate parole for some
crimes, and 85% of the sentence must be served.

The chairperson of the Council has the authority to resurrect
legislation rejected by Council committees, ergo, Chairperson Linda Cropp did.

In a vote of the full Council, a 9 to 4, passed the legislation. Allen
(8) joined the 3 no votes.

Beginning Aug. 5, 2000 it will be tougher for criminals convicted of 37 serious crimes,
to include, carjacking, murder, arson, cruelty to children and armed robbery.

Cropp and a majority said if they did not vote yes on the legislation
the federal would make the decision. That would have been Attorney General Janet Reno.

Leroy Thorpe and Beth Solomon, cofounders of the Shaw Coalition (SC),
strong adversaries against the building of the convention center (CC) in Shaw, have been
managing a great campaign of holding off the ground breaking ceremony at the Shaw site, at
9 and N Streets NW, mainly because the Washington Convention Center Authority (WCCA) has
tried to skirt the laws set forth for constructing a multimillion tax dollar structure.

Solomon has been able to challenge them at every turn, not giving them an inch to
breathe.

Solomon has recruited opponents from across the city because she feels,
as many do, that a new CC shoehorned into the Shaw site will cost the entire city too much
money, and that location would restrict the CC because of a lack of room to expand,
without causing further disruption by totally uprooting the community.

Solomon hosted a party to celebrate the postponement of the ground
breaking that had been planned for February.

Many of the City Council members are concerned about the escalating cost imposed by
WCCA, especially Sharon Ambrose (6), who attends meetings about the CC, outside of city
hall.

WCCA has shown that it is not ready for ground breaking because studies
that should have been performed have not.

A study on traffic as it would relate to the CC has not been performed.
The company WCCA hired about a year ago said their study should be finished a year from
now. They said they need input from advocates and adversaries.

Councilmember Harold Brazil, along with co-sponsors, councilmembers
Sharon Ambrose, Kevin Chavous, Kathy Patterson, Jack Evans, Hilda Mason, and Frank Smith,
are introducing legislation titled "Presidential Year Standardize Primary Date
Amendment of 1997," Bill 12-282. Whereas, the primary elections for the mayor will be
in May each presidential year, and September in non-presidential election years.

This bill does not mention the election for Advisory Neighborhood
Commissioners, or Board of Education. In the presidential election year the District would
have three elections, May, September and November.

The brother of President Bill Clinton's secretary, Betty Currie, died
in an accident that happened on I-95, near Richmond.

Currie is a Black middle age woman. She went before the grand jury to
testify about Clinton's sexual scandal.

The weird circumstances that led to her brother's death was unexplained
at the time of the accident.

Theodore Williams Jr., 52, died December 15, 1997, weeks before Currie
testified in the Clinton and Monica Lewinsky case.

He was on the way to the University of North Carolina to pick up his
daughter, when the pick up truck he was driving hit the back of a tractor trailer.

The driver of the tractor trailer was unaware he was hit, until he was
flagged down. Williams car ran down an embankment, but was not hurt.

The state trooper said Williams told him he was okay, and as he turned
to speak to witnesses, Williams walked towards the fast lane. The trooper shouted a
warning to him, but he rushed into traffic and was hit by another tractor trailer.

The trooper said he found 5.2 grams of marijuana, a pipe and rolling
paper under the floor mat.

No illegal substance was found in his body. However, his blood alcohol
level was .07, just below the legal limit for drunken driving, .08.

The vendors at the Eastern Market North Hall were shut down in
December, followed by hearings before the City Council, on the arrangement between the
vendors and the city.

Thus far, the majority of the money collected from the vendors on
weekends by John Harrod and Tom Rall has not gone to the city.

The legislation Councilmember Ambrose is introducing does not have a
provision that would make Harrod or the vendors pay fees to the city, like other vendors.

An example year was 1996, Harrod reported collecting $116,679, be paid
out $3,000 rental fee to the District government, and $25,000 for management fee to
himself; with a balance of $94,214. Where is the money?

On a list of evening rentals in 1996, totaling 110 rentals, paying from
$25 to $550 per event, Barry and Brazil had events there and were not charged.

At a hearing on March 16 Seegars made it clear that she would report
these actions to the authority, even though Ambrose said there is no law, so far, to cover
Eastern Market and its collections.

At the hearing Harrod mentioned he and Barry had a private deal
concerning the arrangement at the market.

Councilmember Sandy Allen has released her first newsletter, "Eye
On Ward Eight."

It congratulates Alethea Campbell on her DC Commission on Aging chairperson seat, a
picture of her and Muhammad Ali, a letter to her constituents, an award from Whitman-
Walker Clinic, a story about her town meeting, her bill on Medicaid managed care program,
the Wishing Well, planned parenthood facility, and a letter from a supporter, among other
articles of interest.

The print is over purple scenery throughout Ward 8.

She was able to bring back the homemaker program and the burial
assistant program, the amount to each occurrence has not been determined yet. And, she was
able to get a pay raise for the day care providers/

Elliott Wheelan, new Director of personnel, serving at the pleasure of
the mayor, came to DC after being Director of Personnel in Texas for 2 years, Director of
Equal Employment Opportunity in Texas for 3 years, Director of Human Resources, in
Florida, Virginia and Missouri, for a total of 10 years, and a consultant for Human
Resources in Missouri from Feb. 1997, until he came to DC in Sept. 1997.

Millicent Few was the acting director until Wheelan was hired, then she
became the deputy director.

Wheelan and the Legislative Analyst, Annja Stoudmire, grade 12,
befriended each other. They had lunch on a semi-regular basis.

Wheelan lived in the housing provided by the government, on Porter St.,
NW. A few months after living in NW he moved into the same apartment building, in SW,
where Stoudmire lived.

A few months later Stoudmire was promoted by Wheelan, to Associate
Director, whereas she serves at the pleasure of the appointor.

Seegars, acting on tips, submitted a Freedom of Information Act
request, requesting the status of the individuals.

Once the information was received, Seegars called Wheelan and Stoudmire
to interview them.

Stoudmire, who was a former employee of Whittington's, did not return
the call. Stoudmire was familiar with Seegars, but Wheelan had only heard about her. For
precautionary measures, instead of calling Seegars, Wheelan called two lawyers.
Eventually, Seegars and Wheelan talked.

Wheelan said he promoted Stoudmire because she qualified for the
position, and that he has promoted at least two other Black females since he has been the
Director of Personnel.

Mayoral candidate Councilmember Kevin Chavous raised
$116,811 for his campaign, in about one month.

Councilmember Jack Evans, first to declare his candidacy, has
raised $307,305.

Jeffery Gildenhorn, successful businessman, has loaned himself
$409,357 for his mayoral campaign. Gildenhorn said he is financing his own campaign
because he doesn't want to be beholding to anyone.

SS

One of the newer parties, "DC Green Party" has a
candidate in the Ward 1 City Council race.

Scott McLarty will be running in theNovember general
election, against whoever wins the primary election in September.

There will be at least 3 Democrats in the primary, Todd Mosley, Jim
Graham and the incumbent, Frank Smith.

In 1997 many of the Ward 1 voters who signed the petition to recall
Barry, asked if there was a recall petition on Smith to sign.

The Green Party of the District of Columbia (The DC Greens) are
dedicated to social, environmental and economic justice.

SS

A confirmation hearing for Terence Golden for
chairman of the WCCA was held in February. The community was against him.
The restaurant associations, hotel associations, Board of Trade, and DC Chamber
of Commerce was for him.

The Council voted him back in. It goes to show that the Council,
overall, is not listening to the citizens.

Many of the councilmembers get their campaigns financed by the
aforementioned groups. It becomes a situation that money is more important than the
citizens.

SS

The theme park that would have been built on the islands in the
Anacostia River was voted 7 to 6, in favor of, by the Council, but the CB said
"NO."

There would have been a 99 year lease agreement between the city and
the developers.

The CB said there were too many unknowns concerning the project. The 99
year lease would not have the flexibility to be reviewed and better terms renegotiated.

The developers did not submit a development plan, a business plan,
proper environmental and feasibility studies and financing information.

SS

The extra slim, sharp tongued Phillip Pannell has put on 30 pounds. He has gone
up a couple of sizes larger.

SS

H & M Hardware store, located in the shopping center at
Stanton Rd. and Alabama Ave. SE, gave Pannell a discount on electrical work they performed
at his home because he mentioned "One Page At A Time Newsletter."

H & M 202 610-1771

SS

Pannell has been on a clean up mission in Ward 8 for several years. In
early 1998 the three mile stretch of ML King Jr. Ave. was free from posters, advertising
entertainment, but it did not last long. By the time spring arrived the posters were back.

Pannell has been trying to get the mayor and DPW to do their part and keep the streets
clean, especially the main strip.

The residents east of the river who litter where they live, usually do
not litter when they go west of the river.

At Barry's town meetings east of the river, he always asks the
residents not to litter, to be proud of where they live.

He said, "Litter doesn't fall from the sky, litter falls from your
hand."

SS

Dr. Andrew Brimmer has decided to leave the CB in June.

Three of the members said if Brimmer stayed, they would leave.

Brimmer said he wanted to spend more time on his own business.

He wants Constance Newman to replace him.

General Julius Becton, who was placed over the schools, will
also be leaving. Initially he said June, but changed the date to the end of April.

Holder said to embrace change; tired people of the past must, at long
last, move on; and people who separate us by race, class and even by geography must,
finally, be ignored.

This statement comes from a man who had the job of stopping corruption
in the city and did nothing. Now he's basically on the outside looking in, talking trash.

Holder has not helped the District, he has been part of the problem.

SS

It has been reported that half of the District's 3,600 police officers
are not certified to use their weapons.

SS

Plans to start the recycling program in early April has been changed to
July, by Camille Barnett, city manager, because she did not like the contract that
was awarded in March. She plans to revise it and start recycling in July.

The Green Party collects recyclables in front of 441 4 St. NW, the
first Monday in each month, and will continue until curb side collection restarts.

SS

The DC Parole Board failed to administer and monitor $3.2
million in federal grant money, to combat juvenile crime, during the last three years.

The city violated court orders covering its care of detaining
juveniles, and could not document its claims of improvement.

Councilmember Charlene Drew Jarvis appeared on DC Politics in
February. She gave her view on the mayoral candidates. She said Mayor Barry
should not run; Kevin Chavous is not seasoned; Harold Brazil is
too indecisive; she would not vote for Carol Schwartz because she is a Republican;
and Jeffery Gildenhorn is not experienced.

SS

Sarah Thompson, director and founder of LOVE THY NEIGHBOR, died
in March, at the age of 37, of lung cancer.

She started the center with her own money. The center was an outreach
center for all ages. She accepted donations from all sources.

SS

The CB sent a report to Congress, wanting an immediate lifting of rent
control on vacant apartments, and the possible fading out of rental restrictions on all
apartments, except for low-income elderly people.

DC Tenants Advocacy Coalition (TENAC) believes the CB's action
is a blow against Home Rule.

TENAC said rent control affects all who live in rental housing in the
District, almost two thirds of the population.

SS

Marthell Dean was found guilty of murder for the cold-blooded
and malicious killing of DC Police Officer Brian Gibson, near the Ibex Night Club
in NW.

Gibson's death sparked Congress to begin hearings on the death penalty
for the killing of a law enforcement officer.

The jury was deadlocked on the first day of deliberation, but the
following day they returned with a verdict of guilty.

Family and friends of Gibson were overjoyed.

SS

Phillip Pannell, executive director of Anacostia Coordinating
Council (ACC) and board member of Board of LibraryTrustees, hosteda job fair at Covenant House Washington (CHW) in early March.

The applicants were assisted in preparing resumes, being interviewed,
how to dress and time management.

The preparations were for up coming job openings in March, at the Marriott
Metro Center.

Members from Life Experiences Activities Program of Greater
Washington, Inc., and Green Thumb, Inc. were facilitators.

When an athlete signs a contract with a ball club, they get a signing
bonus.

The mayor wanted to offer signing bonuses to lure senior level mangers,
but the Council threw it out. They said this was not a ball club.

SS

Metro Police Dept. complained about too few cars, a need for
computerized equipment in the cars, broken copiers and fax machines and more bullet proof
vests, just to name a few needed items, yet they failed to spend more than $11 million in
grant money.

The money was from grants, income from services provided to other
agencies, municipal budget, award by Congress, money from the Justice Dept., police
auctions, seizure in narcotic cases, money from FBI drug program, and traffic enforcement.

SS

The City Council voted 10 to 3 for a $35,000 pay raise for the position
of mayor.

So far three of the Democratic Council members, Kevin Chavous,
Harold Brazil and Jack Evans, are vying for the mayoral seat in an election to be held
this year.

The legislation has to be passed by the CB and Congress.

SS

In February First Lady Hillary Rodman Clinton was the guest
speaker at a reception, at the Good Hope Marketplace. President Bill Clinton came
along with her.

The reception was to announce the acquisition and management of the
marketplace by Anacostia Economic Development Corporation.

First Lady Clinton addressed day care, health care and education.

SS

The city officials are considering a tax cut, and are planning hundreds
of millions of dollars of budget surplus for the next five years.

The tax cut would be for the residents and businesses.

Does budget surplus mean less jobs, or less service for the residents?

SS

As the chief financial officer of the District, Anthony Williams reaches
out to the community on an, almost, one on one basis.

He invites small groups to attend meetings at his office, on the 11th
floor of 1 Judiciary Square. He shares his thoughts and plans for the District's budget.

He makes sure every ward, race and class are included.

His staff is community friendly, and are extremely helpful to citizens
who are ignorant to the functions of his office and the government.

There was a surplus in 1997, and his plans for the District is to have
a surplus to the year 2004.

SS

Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday, January 15, brought about
many demonstrations by the Stand Up For Democracy Coalition. On
the 15th they demonstrated at the CB, at 1 Thomas Circle, against the city manager over
the schools.

January 19 they marched from MLK Jr. Library to the CB, for
self-governance.

January 28 they demonstrated at the east front steps of the US
Capitol.

Stand Up For Democracy Coalition meets every Tuesday at the National
Council of Negro Women, 633 Pa. Ave., NW, at 6:30 P.M., 202 667-1700.

SS

The Informer did an article about former Councilmember Eydie
Whittington, depicting her with a push broom, stating she is preparing to perform 120
hours of community service, while on 6 months probation.

Whittington was sentenced after being found guilty for making a false
statement on a nominating petition when she ran for re-election to the City Council in
1996. She lost to Sandy Allen.

SS

Mary Treadwell, formerly on the Advisory Neighborhood
Commission (ANC), was sentenced to up to seven years, with all but four months
suspended, plus four years probation, and fined $1,000, after pleading guilty to stealing
more than $10,000 from the ANC funds.

SS

Gregory Keith Mitchell, pleadedguilty to stealing
$65,000 in federal grant money, when he was headofthe Community for
Creative Non-Violence (CCNV).

He used the money for personal use. He could get 23 months in
prison when he is sentenced on May 12.

SS

Allison York, former McGogney Elementary School teacher
who was charged with assault on two pupils was found guilty.

She was ordered to spend 15 nights in custody, not to supervise
children for two years and perform 120 hours of community service.

The judge said he did not believe the first grade teacher's story.

York was fired from her job.

SS

Jeffrey Robinson, a Barry financial contributor, was
found guilty of bank fraud and 10 counts of wire fraud.

He could be sentenced to 80 years in prison when sentenced June 30.

He had received an $825,000 contract from the DC schools to run a
facility for emotionally troubled children, although he did not have the educational
experience or a college degree. He used $200,000 of the city's money for personal
expenditures.

The school was closed in May 1996.

SS

E. Barrett Prettyman, new inspector general, and Wilma Lewis,
new US Attorney, have both made strong statements about going after city waste, fraud
and corruption.

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton recommended Lewis to
President Clinton. She is the first black woman to be in that position.

Prettyman main focus will be on police corruption, whereas, his deputy
will focus on the other crimes.

He agreed to work for free for a year.

SS

Prettyman has hired FBI agents to investigate corruption on the
Metropolitan Police Dept.

One of the agents, Terence J. Wyllie, was among the recruits.
Wyllie will lead a team of seven. He was responsible for the investigation that led to a
guilty verdict on Ronald Stokes, former Taxicab Commission chief.

Greatness is not measured in how long you live,
It's measured in what you have to give.
Marvin gave his heart to the world in such sweet song,
That even though he has left us his memory is still strong.